Enemies of the $10,000 degree in Texas Higher Education

TPPF Policy Orientation Panel: Administrative Bloat: Enemy of the $10,000 degree

Rep. Jim Murphy (HD 143); Ron Trowbridge (Lone Star College); Raymund Paredes (Texas Higher Ed. Coordinating Board)

• Administration has mushroomed at the expense of everything else
• Up 85% over past 20 years.

• Tuition is up over 400% in the past 20.

• Student loan debt is now higher than CC debt.

• Universities are still spending more on admin than instruction by a long shot.

• In Texas, tuition is up 99% in ten years

• 3rd Party payment: Students are rarely directly responsible for the cost of their own education, which leaves little incentive to minimize cost.

• Murphy: Higher education requires non-consumer generated revenue to balance the books.
• Get ready for much greater taxpayer commitment unless we address costs.

•  Trowbridge: How to cut college costs and improve the quality of education.
• If modern technology allows people to take courses from a variety of sources, what will colleges become?!?
• What can't go on forever, won't.
• Adapt or die; become cost effective.

• Self-Preservation: Business-as-usual HATES competition.

• Choice will save students $$$ 

• Paredes: UT-Austin has eliminated hundreds of positions.

Bottom Line: Lots of good ideas presented, but nothing will change as long as impeaching University regents for doing their job remains the top priority for higher education policy in Texas.